Clasp



July 6, 1937, c. R. TosT 2,086,450

CLASP Filed July 16, 1936 Patented July 6, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFF-ICE CLASP Application July 16, 1936, Serial No. 90,863

13 Claims.

This invention relates to clasps such, for example, as are used in wrist watch bracelets, necklaces, etc.

The principal objects of the invention are to provide a clasp having safety catches which are so designed that both must be separately released, but upon the closing or fastening of one catch the other is automatically closed or moved to locking position; and to provide aclasp of the aforesaid type which is of simple design and of pleasing appearance, which is of strong and durable construction, and which is reliable and eiiicient in operation.

Further objects will be apparent from a consideration of the following description and accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. l is a top plan view of a clasp constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig; 2 is a side elevation of the clasp shown in Fig.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged section of the clasp showing the catches in looking position;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but showing the catches in released position;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged bottom plan view of the clasp;

Fig. 6 is a top plan view showing the outer catch released and the inner catch in locking position; and

Fig. 7 is an isometric view of member.

The embodiment herein shown comprises a clasp I secured to a coupling member 2 adapted tohold one end of a bracelet (not shown) and which may be of any conventional design and construction, and a coupling member 3 adapted to hold the other end of the bracelet, the coupling member 3 having a ring or loop 4 by means of which it is detachably secured to the clasp I.

The clasp I comprises a substantially hollow body member having a top wall 5 (Fig. 6) provided with a longitudinally extending slot 6, and side walls 8 and 9 which diverge and project outwardly beyond the top wall 5 to provide a pair of fingers by means of which the clasp is secured to the coupling member 2. The lower ends of the side walls 8 and 9 are bent inwardly (Fig. 5) to provide flanges l0 and II which constitute, in effect, a bottom wall substantially coextensive with the top wall 5. of the top wall is provided with a pair of spaced ears l2 (Fig. 3) which are bent downwardly so as to provide resilient nibs, the utility of which is pointed out hereinafter. The top and. side the inner catch The inner end walls are formed with aligned notches which define a transversely extending recess l5 adjacent to one end, the recess l5 being adapted to receive the loop 4 of the coupling 3, as shown in Figs. 1 to 3.

A spring-friction plate l8 (Figs. 3 to 5) is supported by the flanges l0 and H, the ends of the plate being bent about the opposite ends of the flanges so as to hold the plate in position, and a catch 20 is slidably mounted on the plate IS. The catch 20 is integrally joined to a slide plate 2! (Fig. 7) and one end of the catch is provided with a cam surface 22 disposed at an angle to its line of travel. The opposite end of the catch is formed with a nose 24 which overhangs the slide plate sufficiently to provide a recess 25 which accommodates the loop 4 when the catch is swung to a closed position. The catch 20 carries a finger piece 26 by means of which it may be manually slid from one position to another.

The design of the body member and catch is such that when the catch is slidably mounted on the plate Hi, the slide plate 2| and catch 20 snugly fit within the side and top walls, the finger piece 26 projecting outwardly through the recess l5 or slot 6 (depending upon the position of the catch), and the cam surface 22 extending outwardly through the opening in the end of the body member between the ears l2, as shown in Figs. 3 to 6. When the catch is slid to closed position (Figs. 3 and 6) the nose 24 blocks the entrance to the recess l5 so that the loop 4 can not be withdrawn, and in this position the major portion of the cam surface 22 is disposed within the body member. When the catch is slid to released or opened position (Fig. 4) the finger piece 26 moves into the slot 6 and the nose 24 clears the recess l5 sufliciently for the loop 4 to be withdrawn therefrom, and in this position substantially the entire surface of the cam 22 projects beyond the end of the top wall.

The end of the body member adjacent to the recess [5 is provided with a pintle 28 which supports a second catch 30 for pivotal movement toward and away from the top wall 5. The catch 30 is slightly arcuate and is designed so that it forms, in effect, a casing about the top of, the body member when swung to closed position. Adjacent to the pintle the longitudinal edges of the catch 30 are formed with V-shaped ears 32 providing deflectors which guide the loop 4 di-.

rectly into the recess l5 when dropped over the end of the catch. The ears 32 are so designed that they swing into the recess l5 when the catch 80 is swung to locking position, as shown in Fig. 2.

The free end of the catch 30 is provided with a depending finger 34 which is so designed that it snaps about the ears or nibs l2 and engages the cam surface 22 of catch 20, when swung to closed position. The free end of the catch 30 is also provided with an upstanding nib 35 which constitutes a finger piece by means of which the catch may be pried outwardly from closed position (Fig. 3), so as to permit the catch to be swung to open position (Fig. 4).

When both catches are in open position (Fig.

. 4) the loop 4 may be dropped over the catch 30 directly into the recess l5, and then the catch 30 may be swung to closed position, as indicated by the dot and dash lines of Fig. 4. As above noted, the cam surface 22 of catch 20 projects outwardly beyond the end of the body member when in opened or released position, and hence when the catch 30 is swung to closed position its depending finger 34, after snapping over the ears l2, engages the cam surface and forces the catch 20 inwardly to locking position, as shown in Fig. 3. When in closed position the ears l2 yieldingly hold the catch 30 in place, thus preventing it from accidentally opening, and the finger 34 holds the catch 20 from outward movement. To release the catches it is merely necessary to swing the catch 30 to upright position and then slide the catch 20 outwardly to released position, as above explained.

While I have shown and described one desirable embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that this disclosure is for the purpose of illustration, and that various changes in shape, proportion and arrangement of parts, as well as the substitution of equivalent elements for those herein shown and described, may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A clasp comprising a body member having a recess between its ends adapted to receive a coupling or the like member, a catch mounted on said body member so as to slide from a locking position, wherein the coupling is held Within said recess, to a released position clear of the entrance to said recess, and a lever pivotally mounted on said body member so as to swing toward and away from said catch, said lever and catch having engageable parts constructed and arranged so that when the lever is swung toward said body member said catch is slid to locking position.

2. A clasp comprising a body member having a recess between its ends adapted to receive a coupling or the like member, a catch mounted on said body member so as to slide from a locking position, wherein the coupling is held within said recess, to a released position clear of the entrance to said recess, a lever pivotally mounted on said body member so as to swing toward and away from said catch, and means associated with said catch and lever operative to slide said catch to locking position when said lever is swung toward said. body member.

3. A clasp comprising a body member having a recess between its ends adapted to receive a coupling or the like member, a catch mounted on said body member so as to slide from a locking position, wherein the coupling is held within said recess, to a released position clear of the entrance to said recess, and a lever pivotally mounted on said body member between said recess and one end, said lever having a part engageable with said catch so thatwhen said lever is swung toward said body member said catch is slid to locking position.

4. A clasp comprising a body member having a recess between its ends adapted to receive a coupling or the like member, a catch mounted on said body member so as to slide from a locking position, wherein the coupling is held within said recess, to a released position clear of the entrance to said recess, a second catch pivotally mounted on said body member and arranged to swing from an upstanding position to a locking position wherein it overlies the slidable catch and recess, and means associated with the catches and operative to slide the first catch to locking position when said second catch is swung toward said body member.

5. A clasp comprising a body member having a recess between its ends adapted to receive a coupling or the like member, a catch mounted on said body member so as to slide from a locking position, wherein the coupling is held within said recess, to a released position clear of the entrance to said recess, said catch having a cam surface disposed at an angle to its line of travel, and a lever pivotally mounted on said body member so as to swing toward and away from said catch, said lever having a depending part engageable with said cam surface so as to slide said catch toward locking position when said lever is swung toward said catch.

6. A clasp comprising a body member having a recess between its ends adapted to receive a coupling or the like member, a catch mounted on said body member so as to slide from a looking position, wherein the coupling is held within said recess, to a released position clear of the entrance to said recess, said catch having a cam surface disposed at an angle to its line of travel, and a second catch pivotally mounted on said body member and arranged to swing from an upstanding position to a locking position wherein it overlies the slidable catch and recess, said second catch having a depending part engageable with said cam surface so as to slide the first catch toward locking position when said second catch is swung to locking position.

7. A clasp comprising a substantially hollow body member having a recess between its ends adapted to receive a coupling or the like, a catch mounted in said body member so as to slide-from a released position clear of said recess to a locking position wherein it blocks the entrance to said recess so as to hold the coupling therein, and a lever pivotally mounted on said body member so as to swing toward and away from said catch, said lever and catch having engageable parts constructed and arranged so that when said lever is swung toward said body member, said catch is slid to locking position.

, 8. A clasp comprising a substantially hollow body member having a recess between its ends adapted to receive a coupling or the like, a catch mounted in said body member so as to slide from a released position clear of said recess to a looking position wherein it blocks the entrance to said recess so as to hold the coupling therein, a lever pivotally mounted on said body member so as to swing toward and away from said catch, and means associated with said catch and lever and operative to engage said catch and slide it to locking position when said lever is swung toward said body member.

9. A clasp comprising a substantially hollow body member having a recess between its ends adapted to receive a coupling or the like, a catch mounted in said body member so as to slide from a released position clear of said recess to a locking position wherein it blocks the entrance to said recess so as to hold the coupling therein, said catch having a cam surface disposed at an angle to its line of travel, and a second catch pivotally mounted on said body member and arranged to swing from an upstanding position to a locking position where it overlies the slidable catch and recess, said second catch having a depending part engageable with said cam surface so as to slide the first catch toward locking position when said second catch is swung to locking position.

10. A clasp comprising a substantially hollow body member having a recess between its ends adapted to receive a coupling or the like, a catch mounted in said body member so as to slide from a released position clear of said recess to a locking position wherein 'it blocks the entrance to said recess so as to hold the coupling therein, said catch having an upstanding part constituting a finger piece by means of which it may be manually slid from one position to another and a cam surface disposed at an angle to its line of travel, and a second catch pivotally mounted-on said body member and ar-' ranged to swing from an upstanding position to a locking position where it overlies the slidable catch and recess, said second catch having a depending part engageable with said camsurface so as to slide the first catch toward locking position when said second catch is swung to locking position.

11. A clasp comprising a substantially hollow body member having a recess adjacent to vone end adaptedto receive a coupling or the like, a catch mounted in said body. member so as to slide from a released position clear of said recess to a locking position wherein its inner and blocks the entrance to said recess so as to hold the coupling therein, the outer end of said catch having a cam surface disposed at an angle to its line of travel, said cam surface being substantially enclosed by said body member when said catch is in locking position and projecting outwardly from the end of said body member when said catch is in released position, and a second catch pivotally mounted on the end of said body member adjacent to said recess, the free end of said second catch having a depending part engageable with said cam surface and operative to slide the first catch inwardly to locking position when said second catch is swung toward said body member.

12. A clasp comprising a substantially hollow body member having a recess adjacent to one and adapted to receive a coupling or the like, a catch mounted in said body member so as to slide from a released position clear of said recess to a locking position wherein its inner end blocks the entrance to said recess so as to hold the coupling therein, the outer end of said catch having a cam surface disposed at an angle to its line of travel, said cam surface being substantially enclosed by said body member when said catch is in locking position and projecting outwardly from the end of said body member when said catch is in released position, and a second catch pivotally mounted on the end of said body member adjacent to said recess, the free end of said second catch having a depending part engageable with said cam surface and operative to slide the first catch inwardly to locking position when said second catch is swung toward said body member, the slidable catch having an upstanding part providing a finger piece by means of which it may be manually slid from one position to another when said second catch is swung away from said body member.

13. A catch comprising a body member having means for receiving a coupling member, a

catch mounted on said body member to slide from a released position to a locking position wherein it holds said coupling member locked to said body member, and a second catch pivotally moimted on said body member and adapted to be swung upon and away from said body member, said second catch being constructed and arranged to engage the first catch and to slide it to and hold it in locking position when swung upon said body member. 7

CHARLES R. T081. 

